At the SEDEC commission meeting held in Brussels on 2 April 2019, members discussed modalities to implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to social policy, education and innovation at the local level. During the debate, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, from the Cork City Council (Ireland) argued that regions and cities must find ways to embed SDGs into their development plans. To illustrate that, he outlined the initiatives such as Cork Learning City and Cork Learning Fest, which have made a great contribution to the city's achievements in the field of Quality Education.

Meanwhile, on 3 April 2019, Cllr Anthony Buchanan from the East Renfrewshire Council (Scotland) took part in a meeting of the CoR's Broadband Platform where he discussed the strategic agenda of the next European Commission “Digital Single Market for all” with Mr Gerard De Graaf, Director for Digital Single Market in the European Commission's DG CNECT and other CoR members.

Cllr Buchanan argued that the future of many areas, especially rural ones, depends on digital transformation and they must not be left behind. "Digital transformation should start with those regions farthest away from fast connectivity," he added.

Broadband Platform is a joint initiative by the European Commission and the CoR launched to help high-speed broadband reach all European regions, including rural and sparsely populated areas where there is not enough market-driven development.